artist’s books

Words in art. Word Art. Poetry (haiga for eg.). Book art. Artist Books. Altered books. Words as power objects. How words are so integrated into our experience that they are almost visceral. How we make and order our world with them. ‘In the beginning was the word’. How we also limit our perceptions with words.

Our local art space (Adelaide Hills) is calling out for artists for a Fringe show of words in art. So if you’re in South Australia (or elsewhere in Aus) please consider showing with them. I want some good company!

Years ago I wanted to do a painting, huge, white, with just the word ‘white’ in the centre, quite small. I didn’t. These days I use words quite often because my work has shifted from huge wall pieces to smaller more ephemeral pieces.

Following is a gallery of inspiration, mostly my work because I know the copyright status. There are so many other artists’ work I’d love to include.

My latest fun. Destroying books. Not important or rare ones, of course. I’ve got a better Miró one and, let’s face it, important as books are, in these times there are so many that sometimes they are just so much junk. That’s my justification anyway. That second one down has to change more though. There is some legal precedent about many percent change is enough before you can call it your own work. More than this one, I reckon. The last one (‘Important Bits of Mademoiselle K’) is worth a closer look, I think. Click on it. . . .